Get ready to roll into a world of flavor with these easy no-bake 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls! These bite-sized treats are packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats. They can be made in 15 minutes and are the perfect wholesome and delicious snack to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Today I'm diving into the world of wholesome snacking with these delicious 3-Ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls. It's always smart to have an arsenal of quick and easy healthy snack recipes that you can turn to when hunger hits. Some of my favorite nutritious snacks are my giant peanut butter rice cake, chocolate almond clusters, kale chips, and coconut date balls.
These tasty oatmeal energy balls are packed with nutrient-rich ingredients and are a simple and satisfying treat. And they feature one of my favorite ingredients- oats!
It's a simple recipe that can be made with a few basic pantry ingredients and requires no baking. And the beauty of the recipe is that you can customize these no-bake oatmeal balls with a variety of add-ins to suit your taste.
Whether you're in need of a post-workout snack or a quick pick-me-up during a busy day, these 3-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls are here to fuel your day with long-lasting energy.
Are you a pumpkin spice fan? If so, then try my tasty pumpkin protein balls (no-bake energy bites).
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Dish
- Quick and Easy: These no-bake peanut butter oatmeal balls are a breeze to make with simple ingredients. This quick snack is ready in 15 minutes!
- Wholesome Ingredients: Made with simple wholesome ingredients like old-fashioned oats, a healthy whole grain, and peanut butter.
- Balanced Nutrition: Packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats, these easy energy bites will fill you up and provide sustained energy.
- Tasty: They have a delicious nutty flavor reminiscent of cookie dough.
- Convenient and Portable: Perfect for on-the-go snacking, providing a nutritious option whenever hunger strikes.
- Customizable: There are so many optional ingredients you can add to this basic recipe such as vanilla extract, chocolate chips, ground flax seeds, chia seeds or protein powder.
- Portion Control: These oatmeal balls are bite-sized and the perfect healthy snack- it's instant portion control.
- Kid-friendly- A lunchbox favorite and the perfect healthy after school snack.
- Versatile: Easily adaptable to various dietary preferences, including gluten-free and peanut allergy-friendly options.
Doctor's Tip: Discover the remarkable health benefits of overnight oats! From promoting heart health to aiding in weight management, oats are packed with nutrition to kickstart your day!
Ingredients


Ingredient notes and substitutions. See recipe card at the end of the post for full ingredient list.
Basic Oatmeal Balls Recipe:
This basic recipe only requires 3 ingredients!
- Old fashioned oats- use regular old fashioned rolled oats, not quick-cooking oats, steel-cut oats or instant oats. Use certified gluten-free oats if you're gluten free.
- Peanut butter- use creamy peanut butter. You can use regular peanut butter or natural peanut butter- either one will work, as long as it's creamy. You can substitute almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower butter.
- Honey- helps bind the balls; you can substitute another liquid sweetener like pure maple syrup or agave.
Optional Add-Ins:
There are so many ingredients you can add to these peanut butter oatmeal balls to add extra flavor or a nutritional boost. Here are some examples:
- Vanilla extract- gives these oatmeal balls a cookie-like flavor
- Cinnamon or other spices like nutmeg, ginger or pumpkin spice
- Sea salt- a generous pinch of sea salt can help balance out the sweet flavors in these balls
- Mini chocolate chips- you can't go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate!
- Ground flaxseed or chia seeds- will help bind the balls and add a boost of protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids
- Shredded coconut- adds flavor and texture; you can also add cocoa powder for an almond joy flavor
- Protein powder- you can add vanilla or chocolate protein powder. It will make the balls drier so you may need to add extra honey to get the right texture
- Dried fruit- chopped medjool dates, dried cherries, cranberries or raisins add flavor and texture.
My favorite combination of add-ins is vanilla, cinnamon, mini chocolate chips, protein powder, and ground flaxseed for a boost of fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and beneficial phytochemicals. Learn all about the amazing health benefits of flaxseed.
How To Make 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls Step-By-Step

See recipe card at the end of the post for full recipe details.
- Step 1- Mix the peanut butter and honey together in a large mixing bowl until smooth.
- Step 2- Add the oats. Add any additional ingredients at this point.
- Step 3- Using a spatula, stir to combine all the ingredients well.
- Step 4- Form the mixture into balls, about 1-inch in size. You can do this with your hands or a small cookie scoop. Roll them around in your hands to compact them so that they stay together. Enjoy the oatmeal balls right away or chill them in the refrigerator first. They can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.
Chef's Tips
- I like to give the oats a rough chop in a food processor to break them up into smaller pieces before making this dish. This helps the balls hold together better.
- The texture of the oatmeal balls will differ depending on whether you use regular peanut butter or a natural peanut butter. Natural peanut butter balls may be a little bit drier.
- Depending on how many add-ins you use, especially protein powder, you may need to add more liquid (honey) to moisten the balls so they can hold together.
- I like to use a small cookie scoop so that the balls are all the same size.
- You can wet your hands with a little water to make rolling them easier.
- You can stick the bowl in the fridge for about 15 minutes to get the mixture to firm up a little and make it easier to roll.

Recipe FAQs
You can store the energy balls in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. You can also store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let frozen peanut butter oatmeal balls thaw at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before eating.
Absolutely! Energy balls are packed with a nourishing blend of protein, healthy fats, and fiber. They offer a wholesome option for breakfast, between meals, or as a pre/post-workout snack. They are a great choice for anyone looking to make healthier snack decisions.
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Recipe
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter (can substitute almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower butter)
- ¼ cup honey (can substitute maple syrup or agave)
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats (use certified gluten-free oats to keep the recipe gluten free)
Optional add-ins:
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
- 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed or chia seeds
- ¼ cup shredded coconut
- 1 scoop vanilla or chocolate protein powder
Instructions
- Mix the peanut butter and honey together in a large mixing bowl until smooth.
- Add the oats. Add any additional ingredients at this point.
- Using a spatula, stir to combine all the ingredients well.
- Form the mixture into balls, about 1-inch in size. You can do this with your hands or a small cookie scoop. Roll them around in your hands to compact them so that they stay together. Enjoy the oatmeal balls right away or chill them in the refrigerator first.
- You can store the energy balls in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
- I like to give the oats a rough chop in a food processor to break them up into smaller pieces before making this dish. This helps the balls hold together better.
- The texture of the oatmeal balls will differ depending on whether you use regular peanut butter or a natural peanut butter. Natural peanut butter balls may be a little bit drier and may need a little more liquid (honey).
- Depending on how many add-ins you use, especially protein powder, you may need to add more liquid (honey) to moisten the balls so they can hold together.
- I like to use a small cookie scoop so that the balls are all the same size.
- You can wet your hands with a little water to make rolling them easier.
- You can stick the bowl in the fridge for about 15 minutes to get the mixture to firm up a little and make it easier to roll.
Kelly Driskel says
Love these! My husband even compares them to no bake cookies.
Dr. Sonali Ruder says
They're a favorite in our house too!
Nancy Willis says
Thanks for sharing your recipe. It's so easy to make and they taste great.
My hands cannot take rolling little balls. They cramp something fierce (no need to go on about why; I suspect people with arthritis might have the same kind of issue). So, after I mix up your batch, I split it up and put it in wax paper and form long rectangle logs; about the diameter of the balls. Then I put that in the fridge to stiffen up.
I cut them into squares and freeze them. It reduces the time to make and so much easier on the hands. Just wanted to pass that on.
Dr. Sonali Ruder says
Thanks for your comment, Nancy! That is such a great idea to make bars instead of rolling little balls. I usually get my kids to help me with it! 🙂
So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
Kelly Driskel says
I use an ice cream scooper. Makes just the right size balls.
Dr. Sonali Ruder says
Yes! I use a small ice cream scoop so that they're all the same size 🙂
Donna says
The recipe was easy to follow and easy to adjust with added ingredients. I used extra crunchy peanut butter since it was all I had on hand and did add the protein powder, chocolate chips and coconut. It was necessary to add more honey and they turned out great. They are in the freezer handy for a protein snack!
Dr. Sonali Ruder says
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed the dish! Your additions sounds terrific. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review 🙂
Shreya says
Thank you so much for sharing this healthy oatmeal balls. I really liked the way you described things. I would definitely try this. Bookmarked this page, will come back for more. Please keep sharing…
Shreya
Rebecca Chambers says
The children at church helped make
This recipe so easy and so fun I had them spray hand with cooking spray which they loved. Will make this again next year.
Dr. Sonali Ruder says
I'm so happy to hear this! My kids love making these oatmeal balls with me. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review 🙂
Lyn says
Hi Sonali
This recipe looks good. Can we have the metric measurements please ? Is peanut butter healthy ? Thank you.
Dr. Sonali Ruder says
Hi Lyn, I just added the metric units. Yes, peanut butter is a good source of plant-based protein and healthy fats 🙂